Circle Quartet: 47

Chapter 47

The celebration is continued after Alse has been totally annihilated. The night is still long since it is winter. I have another 4 hours before the sunrise. The Necromancer Trio cast some spells to re-build some of the serious damage of the buildings. The other minor damages will be repaired on the next day.

We gather again at the Main Dining Hall, but this time Grandfather Vlad joins us too. He is so excited like he’s having his own party and everybody is celebrating for him. There are a lot of things that I need to ask him but I think I should save the questions later and enjoy the celebration one more time.

The foods are served once again and this time they are a lot – they are flooding the tables but I think all of us are going to gobble them up in no time. Those who are injured are completely healed and they have so much fun drinking and laughing – they drink juice because they are still underage, same as mine.

Great Grandfather Vlad is telling his story when he was young. He wants me to call him Uncle instead of Grandfather because he doesn’t want to feel too old to be a grandfather. That makes Granddaddy Saba kind of jealous – Grandfather Vlad looks younger than him.

Everyone is happy for the celebration. Alan makes a special birthday chocolate cake for me and Stefan (he used magic of course). I hope he doesn’t use something else to turn it into a delicious cake. Ace asks Alan about the cake casting spell before Raina does. Raina is pre-occupied with her lover, Tavis – they are dancing on the table. If Grandma Zelda saw this, they’re going to turn into slugs. But I think Grandma Zelda won’t mind. I hope so.

Jeff is enjoying himself eating the chocolate cake even though no one can see him except me and Stefan. Stefan can see him now after drinking the sacred water. I was asked how Alse’s barrier was destroyed back then but I didn’t answer it. I will tell them when the time comes.

It’s nearly dawn so I need to go back to my room. Abbie says goodnight first because she’s exhausted – that’s what she says. I look at the window as the glimmering light shone at the horizon. This is the most beautiful dawn I ever seen for the past 18 years. I’m now 18 although I am not quite sure about my real age. Well, at least I’m still alive.

“Alice,” Jeff calls me and I turn to him, smiling. “I think you should tell them about me tomorrow.”

“What?” I nearly shriek but still can control my voice.

“I can’t stay in this form forever. I promise your brother that I’ll help you to fight Alse. And now Alse is gone. For good. And it’s my mission is accomplish.”

“I thought that you said that you’re going to be by my side. You promised Jeff that you’ll take care of me.”

“I know. I’m sorry for not letting you know about this. And I don’t want to leave your side either. Even though I’ve been with you for such a short time, but I will never forget what we’ve been through,” he puts his hand on my shoulder. “Please, Alice. You have to understand.”

I put my hand on top of his and think for a while. Then I nod. I can’t force him to stay with me. This time, I need to let him go. I don’t want to separate with the person that I care the most – even though he’s only Jeff’s spirit, but I think I have no choice.

Jeff usher me to my coffin – it’s a bed anyway, and kiss my forehead before telling me to go to sleep. He says that he will be here for me until nightfall. This time, I hold firmly to his hand just for the last moment.

The first thing that I do after waking up from not-so-very-nice sleep is telling Stefan of what Jeff had said last dawn. We’re at the library, helping the librarians to re-arrange the scattering books on the floor. Stefan is shock to hear the news but he says to me that Jeff did this for his own good. At least he’s been with me until the end of the war. I hope there will be no more war after this. I want to have a good, peaceful life like everybody else, even though I’m now a nocturnal where some people might hate me for drinking human blood. But what can I do? I only drink blood from the bad guys who are criminals, not the innocent one.

Okay, I think I should stop mumbling something out of topic. Right now, I need to think of the perfect time to tell them about the spirit of Jeff. The Necromancer Trio are still here, helping the others to re-build the Academy. Uncle Vlad – finally I call him Uncle and he’s very delighted, is still talking about his awesome adventures to the young ones. I never thought that he’s that talkative. Sometimes I find him quite funny for a prince.

“Alright. This part is done,” I let out a sigh of relief after arranging the books on the shelves of the second part of the library. The shelves are very high that I need to use the ladder. It’s a good exercise for me, getting up and down the ladder for nearly two hours. My stomach is growling for food.

“I see that you’re hungry,” smirks Stefan.

This is so embarrassing.

“I haven’t eaten a single food yet, okay?” I am annoyed of his smirks. Since when has he become like this?

“Sorry,” he chuckles. “You stomach growls too loud that make my stomach wanting the food too,” he pats on his stomach. “Let’s go and have dinner then we can come back here to finish our work. How’s that?” he asks, waiting for my quick response.

“Hmm…okay,” I shrug. “We need to discuss on the perfect time to tell them about Jeff. Do you think during dinner is appropriate? or should I tell them after we finish arranging the books?” I ask for his opinion.

“I don’t know, Alice. Telling a secret takes time, like what they did before we know who we are. Let’s have dinner first, then we talk about this later,” he pats on my head.

So we tell the other librarians that we need to feed our stomachs first and come back. When we arrive at the Main Dining Hall, the foods are already served. Uncle Vlad scurried here and there, helping Ace, Raina, and Isidro arranging the glasses on the tables. They are glad to see us here. Stefan and I offer our help but Uncle Vlad wants us to take a seat while waiting for the others.

The big feast starts not very long after the foods were served. Look likes we’re having another party. And this time it’s merrier since our family members increase. The Necromancer Trio will spend their days for the whole week in this Academy. They want to completely re-build this building. I learn that those three brothers were the first batch of this Academy, a very long time ago. Three of them are few years younger than Jeff.

Uncle Vlad stands up by raising his glass of blood. “To our heroes, Alice and Stefan, for defeating Alse and restoring the peace once again. Cheers!”

“Cheers!” Everyone clinks their glasses eat merrily.

Stefan and I are nominated to be the heroes for this century. I think that is too far for us. We’re just defeating one horrible person, not the whole battalion.

Jeff taps lightly on my shoulder after I have the last bite of my dessert. “It’s time, Alice,” he whispers and takes one step behind.

I take a deep breath and stand up. I clear my throat, signing that I want to tell something.

“Sorry for the interruption but there’s something I need to tell you, all of you,” I announce. “Do you remember when Alse’s barrier broke that night? And how Stefan was healed when Alse hurt him?” I ask. Some of them nod.

“It’s not only me and Stefan fighting Alse back then. There’s someone else who fought along with us. And that person is Jeff,” I finally reveal the truth.

Jeff appears and everyone can see him. All of them gasp and whisper to each other unbelievingly.

“Jeff, is that really you?” asks Mom.

“Actually, I’m not the real Jeff,” says Jeff. “I’m an ancient spirit called SimpleThing. I came from The Land Beneath The Feet. Jeff was the one who found that place and we made promise before he died. You see, Jeff’s spirit is inside my body and only Alice can see me since Jeff gave her a special necklace that she’s wearing right now. I promised Jeff to take care of Alice until Alse was defeated. And now, Alse has gone, and I have to return to where I belong.”

“I can’t believe it. That ancient place exists,” says Grandma Zelda.

“And Jeff discovered it,” adds Aunt Ada.

“Since you guys know my existence, I can’t stay in this form much longer,” Jeff turns to me and our gaze meet. “It’s been happy to be with you, Alice. You’ve grown and you’ve become a lot stronger than before,” he ruffles my hair gently.

“Jeff, please don’t leave,” I hug him, holding back my tears.

“Hey, don’t be sad, Alice. We’ll be together again one day,” he gently strokes my back. “Anyway, you have Stefan now. He’ll protect you for the rest of his life.”

“That’s right, Alice,” says Stefan. “I will fulfil my promise. I’ll never leave your side and I’ll protect you as I protect my life.”

Warm tears flow down to my cheek. “I’m going to miss you, Jeff,” I sob.

“And I’m going to miss you too, Alice,” he kisses me on the head.

His body glows and slowly disappear. He waves at me for the last time. I won’t forget him for the rest of my life. Never.

Suddenly, someone appear at the entrance of the dining hall.

“Did you guys miss me?” says that person while approaching us.

Everyone is stunned.

That person is Jeff. He’s alive!